Record-Setting Heat Wave To Affect Nearly Every Ski Resort In The West, Season Could End Early

In case you've been living under a rock, this ski season has been less-than-ideal in terms of snowfall and cold temperatures across the West.

Nearly every ski resort, from California up to Washington and east as far as Colorado, is reporting below-average snowfall totals and snowpack bases for this time of year. That's led to multiple ski areas in Utah, Idaho, and Oregon ending their seasons prematurely.

Now, a record-setting heat wave is settling in across the entirety of the West, and ski resorts are most likely panicking. Will their fledgling snowpacks survive the temps? Will skiers throw in the towel on an already disappointing season?

It's hard to say, but two ski areas in the Lake Tahoe area, Sierra-at-Tahoe and Homewood, have already read the writing on the wall. They will close following this upcoming Sunday, March 22, 2026.

OpenSnow, a popular weather app among skiers, is tracking the heat wave's impact on ski resorts. The map below shows that temperatures will be 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit above average over March 18-19, 2026.

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As shown in the map above, the heatwave won't spare a single state west of the Mississippi. Northern Washington and parts of Oregon will be affected the least, but significantly above-average temperatures will be recorded over the next two days.

Naturally, this storm will affect low-elevation and less-snowy ski resorts the most. If you're in Utah, that could mean ski resorts like Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, Park City, and Deer Valley will be hit the hardest. With that said, powder havens such as Alta and Snowbird are reporting below-average snowfall and snow bases.

In California, Mammoth is still reporting a healthy base despite recent rain and warm temperatures. The mountain doubled down on its commitment to remaining open through Memorial Day in a social media post yesterday, March 17. The base will certainly take a hit this week, but it appears that Mammoth's high-elevation and wind-buff factory has treated it well in a below-average snow year.

Further north, don't be surprised if ski resorts like Palisades Tahoe, Northstar, Kirkwood, and Sugar Bowl are forced to declare early closing dates following the heatwave. Tahoe was hit hard by multiple inches of rain a couple of weeks ago, and temperatures have been balmy since. Palisades Tahoe has already closed Granite Chief, the highest point of the resort, and Headwall Express for the season due to melt-off.

Colorado, forever in the international spotlight due to its excellent marketing as a ski state, has suffered a poor season, too. Stories from the Centennial State have made international headlines as ski resorts have struggled to open terrain and maintain optimal conditions throughout the season. With a record-breaking heatwave on the way, don't be surprised if ski resorts such as Eldora, Granby Ranch, and Sunlight announce early closing dates.

The Pacific Northwest (PNW), and more specifically northern Washington, was slammed by a multiple-foot blizzard last week. The storm did include a rain event, but powder fell on top, and skiers enjoyed some of the deepest conditions of the season.

With all of this new snow, the PNW could fare okay through the storm. Snow will melt, but with 4-5 feet of fresh on top, the base should hopefully be well protected. With that said, Mt. Baker Ski Area is temporarily closed this week due to rain and warm temperatures. It expects to reopen on Friday, March 20, 2026.

As for the Northern Rockies (Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming), the mercury is expected to rise, but high-elevation ski resorts with respectable bases such as Jackson Hole, Grand Targhee, Sun Valley, and Big Sky should survive the heat. Sun Valley is hanging in there due to its excellent snowmaking and grooming systems. The terrain adjacent to the trails might be brown, but there's still plenty of groomed snow to rip until closing day.

POWDER will keep an eye on closing dates announcements across the West over the next two weeks. Ski resorts typically announce pre-planned season extensions this time of year, but those announcements might be replaced by solemn closing-day plans.

Here's hoping some snow and cold temperatures materialize in April. We need it.